Allocating time for shopping or doing recreational activities has become a subject of debate in recent years. While shopping in free time can offer numerous benefits, the primary disadvantages, in my opinion, outweigh merits.
On the one hand, dedicating several hours to making purchases might have some advantages. To begin, this type of leisure time activity is becoming more popular among youngsters day by day. It gives an opportunity, such as escaping a heavy studyload or excessive exam pressure. To be more specific, teenagers can meet friends, enjoy meals, and ultimately relieve stress. Having said that, there is no guarantee that this habit leads to personal growth or the development of pivotal skills that are necessary for their future.
Nevertheless, in my view, the negative sides of this trend clearly exceed the positive ones. The first and foremost reason is that spending an incredible amount of time in shopping malls could influence their preferences or characteristic features, such as making young people tend to be more materialistic, which they might start to think that buying expensive things is the most important part of life. This tendency has directly negative impact on their financial habits. Also, by not joining activities like sports or music, they miss chances to become stronger, more creative, and more disciplined which worsens their cognitive abilities. For example, young individuals who engage in sports in daily basis often show better leadership and communication skills compared to those who do not.
In conclusion, despite the fact that spending time in shopping centers can offer young people a way to socialize, becoming materialistic and missing the chance to gain important skills makes this trend disadvantageous for society.